720s accumulator replacement

720s accumulator replacement

Author
Discussion

neillmackay1

Original Poster:

2 posts

20 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
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Hi, can anyone recommend a company "not main dealer" to replace "calibrate" my 720s suspension, got the dreaded suspension failure on the dash, and pump is running constantly, any help would be greatly appreciated

Neill

samoht

6,086 posts

151 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
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No personal experience but I believe V Engineering are good for this
https://www.v-engineering.co.uk/mclarens-in-may/

V Engineering said:
We also had in a P1 in for service, suspension accumulator charge and check over, plus another 675LT in for suspension work. This was next to a further two 675LT’s for suspension accumulator replacements, using our rechargeable accumulators which never need replacing, just recharging when they run low on gas!”
Other independents are Litchfield and Thorney.

AA121

247 posts

203 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
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Had mine done at Thorney last year.........very happy with the service and result.

neillmackay1

Original Poster:

2 posts

20 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
quotequote all
AA121 said:
Had mine done at Thorney last year.........very happy with the service and result.
can I be rude and ask what the cost was roughly? I will give them a call in the morning, thanks

AA121

247 posts

203 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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Approx £1500 inc basic geo check and vat. That was over 6 months ago though so......!?

davek_964

9,145 posts

180 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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I used V a couple of times, and they are superb. Plus, they can even give you rechargeable accumulators now.

Abacus21

150 posts

40 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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Full geometry is different to wheel alignment using a laser Hunter machine similiar to Kwik fit and the like. Many operators will dial in extra variable to correct another wheel variable to compensate. This is wheel alignment. Full Geometry is all wheels being precisely calibrated and it can take hours to do correctly.

I had full geo done at String Theory and the difference was night and day. They can calibrate the drive to your preference, dial out certain variables depending on your driving style and requirements.

I wished I had experience full geometry sooner. I couldnt believe it could make such a difference.

McLarens respond very well to full proper geometry because the handling is one of its redeeming features.

Whoever you get your full geometry done see what equipment they use.

Purso

902 posts

107 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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I had my geo done at v took them 2 hours as I waited and watched, charged me for 1 hour and then drove the car and it is the biggest difference I have noticed in any car. I also had my accumulators replaced by main dealer and didn't notice as big a difference.

davek_964

9,145 posts

180 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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Purso said:
I had my geo done at v took them 2 hours as I waited and watched, charged me for 1 hour and then drove the car and it is the biggest difference I have noticed in any car. I also had my accumulators replaced by main dealer and didn't notice as big a difference.
Same here - I had it done after owning the car for almost 3 years. I'd had it done elsewhere once before soon after I'd bought the car, and was disappointed that it didn't make a bigger difference - car still didn't handle the way I thought it should.

V transformed the car - it finally handled exactly how I'd always thought it should. Best thing I ever had done to the car.

Sadly, it didn't stop me driving it into a hedge a few months later - but it was nice while it lasted wink

RSbandit

2,739 posts

137 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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What exactly does a geo change? Once it's done does it stay like that or does the setup deteriorate over time?

thatdude

2,657 posts

132 months

Tuesday 14th February 2023
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RSbandit said:
What exactly does a geo change? Once it's done does it stay like that or does the setup deteriorate over time?
It's about setting the static angles (for want for better terms) for the wheels, so they are "pointing" in such a way to maximise the handling of the car. Depending on how this is set, you can change the handling characteristics (more / less understeer feel etc). If you have them all set at a wonk, you can make the car crab along, or pull to one side, or have it so the wheels are straight but the steering-wheel is off-centre, or perhaps have one tyre wear on one edge more than it should etc etc.

Wheel alignment and geometry is very important for both the basic safe handling of a vehicle and the overall performance. Having it set right can make for better tyre wear, and also it can help with fuel economy (if thats your thing!).

Parts of the suspension do wear with time, which can put the geometry out, and hitting things in the road e.g. potholes etc can also knock things out. We're talking a couple of degrees, often fractions of a degree here, but it can affect thigs quite dramatically, particularly in cars that \are designed to have sharp handling.